FORTY-four areas in Lautoka where families have been in lockdown for more than two weeks have been receiving food packs from FRIEND (Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development) Fiji.
The non-governmental organisation gave food packs to the Commissioner Western’s office for distribution to about 200 families presently in isolation.
FRIEND Fiji executive director Sashi Kiran said they were approached by the Commissioner Western’s office to supply food rations to families affected by the April 19 lockdown.
“We have about 200 families in Lautoka alone in quarantine,” she said.
“So with the Commissioner Western’s office we were able to put food packs together and deliver them to these families.”
She said while they had responded to calls from those within the Sugar City, more families were in isolation in Nadi and Tavua.
“We keep getting these calls for help and the best we can do is reach out to our friends in these towns to help these families.
“We are trying to co-ordinate help for them but right now it’s difficult to get help across.”
Yesterday, a team from this newspaper spoke to a family in isolation in Nadi. According to their matriarch, they were able to buy supplies with the help of Health Ministry officials at the beginning of their quarantine more than two weeks ago.
“There are nine of us currently in isolation. “I’m most worried about my four children and my youngest is three years old.
” I have been contacting the Health Ministry for an update on our results because if we continue to stay in isolation we will run out of food,” she said.
